System of electric metering.



No. 645,!29. Paten tad mar. l3, mm).

'L. 0. new, I SYSTEM OF ELECTMC METERING.

(Application filed Nov. 3, 1899.] (No Nodal.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

m: mums warns co. PflOTD-LITNEL. WASNINGTON, n. c

No. 645,129. A Patented Mar/l3, I900.

L. C. REED. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC METERING.

(Application filed. Nov, 3,}899.) (No Model.) 3-Shaata-Shaet z.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIII'II A VIII!lllqllllllll llltllgllflqg LLIJ 1 I II No. 645,129. Patented Mar. I3, 1900.

. c. nun. SYSTEM 0F ELECTRIC METERING;

(Application-filed Nov. 3, 1899.)

3 Sheets-$heot 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'LVlVIAN c. REED, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,

SYSTEM. OF ELECTRIC METERING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,129, dated March '13, 1900.

Application filed November 3 1899. Serial No. .735 .722. (No model.)

T and whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,LYMAN C. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans. and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electric Metering,

into the circuit separately, the object of the invention being to secureaccurate registration of the current consumed by an installation through all ranges of load. The switch employed is actuated by magnets located on opposite sides of an'armature secured to the switch-lever, and said magnets are in shuntcircnits which are controlled by the quantity of current flowing through the agency of a thermostatic circuit-controller. My present invention has the same object in view-that is, of securingaccurate registration-through all ranges of -load-- -and,1 as in the former case, I employ a plurality of meters' of different capacities and a switch for separately cutting. said meters into thecircuit. Instead of the thermostatic circuit-controller, however, disclosed in the former case I'em ploy a magnetic circuit-controller. v The invention therefore consists of a plurality of meters, aservice-circuit through said meters, a switch for separately cutting said meters into said circuit, actuating means for said switch, and a magnetic circuit-controller for said actuating means.

It also consists in certain details struction of the circuit-controller and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

-In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the switch, its operating mechanism and the magnetic circuit-controller therefor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a dias, grammatic view illustrative of the circuit con- In a metallic box or casing 1 are mounted of conon an insulating-block 2 four sets of switchcontacts 3 4, 5 6, 7 8, 0 10, the contacts 3 and 7 being connected together by the conductor 11 and the contacts 5 and 9 being connected together by the conductor 12. \Vith the switchcontacts are adapted to cooperate the switchblades 13 and 14 on the switch-lever 15, the said blades being adapted to close'the circuits between the members of the pairs of said contacts. The contact 4 is connected through .the wire 16 with the positive fieldcoil 17 of the small meter A, from which leads thewire 18 to the translating devices. The contact ti is connected through the wire 19 with the negative field-coil 20 of the small meter A-,-from which leadsthe wire 21 to the translating devices. The contact 8 is con.- nected through the wire 22 with the positive fie1d-coil 23 of the large meter B, from which leads the wire 24 to-the translating devices, and the contact '10 is connected through the wire 25 with the negative field-coil 26 of the large meter B,- from which leads the Wire 27 to the translating devices. Each of the meters illustrated is' of the ordinary Thomson threewire type; but it is obvious that a two-wire meter of the same kind may be employedin its stead or a two or three wire meter of any kind may be used. The neutral wire 28 leads from the translating devices to the main service neutral 29. The switch-contacts referred .to are mounted upon insulating-blocks 30 '30,

secured to the under side of e insulatingblock 2 and secured to opposite sides of the box or casingl are insulating-blocks 31 32. On the block 31 are binding-poles 3334, from the former of which leads the wire 19 and from thelatter ofwhich the wire 16. On the block 32 are secured binding-poles 35 36, from the former of which leads the'wire 25 and from the latter of which the wire 22. These binding-poles are connected with the switch.- contacts referred to,as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The switch-lever 15' is-fulcrumed at 37 to cross-bars 38, secured to the box or casing l, and has secured to it an armature 39.

Attached to said armature and leadin g downwardly therefrbm is an extension 40 of the lever 15, to whichis attached an'insulatingblock 41. and extending in opposite directions therefrom contacts 42 43, the same being adapted The said block has secured to it.

- to cooperate with similar fixed contacts 44 and 45, respectively. The lever is adapted to be rocked on its fulcrum 37 for the purpose of switching the current from one meter to theother bymeans of double-pole magnets 46 47, the same being secured to the metallic box or casing 1, and said box or casing serving as a yoke for the two parts of each of said magnets. The armature 39 plays between the poles of these magnets, and when one is energized the armature will be attracted in one direction toshit't the lever. 15, and when the other is energized the armature will be attracted in the other direction to shift said lever in a direction opposite that in which it was formerly moved.

The magnets referred to are'in' shunt-circuits, which are controlled by a magnetic circuit-controller now to be described. Secured to the metallic casing 1, beneath the magnets. 46 and i7, is an insulating-block 48, on which secured to the boxor casing 1 by screws or other analogous means, the said box or easin g serving as a yoke to produce a double-pole magnet. An extension 56 of the positive service-wire 52 is wound upon the core of the magnet 51 and is connected through the wire 57 with the switch-contacts 3 and 7. An extension 58 of the negative service-wire is wound upon the core of the magnet 55and is. connected through wire 59 with the switch contacts 5 and 9. It will thus be seen that the magnets 54 55 are in series with the meters A and B. The contacts it and 45, heretofore referred to, are attached to an insulating bar or strip 60, secured to the frames of the magnets 54 55. Also secured to the frames of said magnets is a supportingrbracket 61. Pivoted to thd bracket 61v is a soft-iron armature 62,which plays between the-poles oi. the magnets 54 55. W hen said magnets are energized by the low of current through the coils thereof, the armature 62 is turned in a direction parallel to the lines of force between the positive and negative poles thereof, the

extent of said movement being greater or less,

according to the current flow. Movement of said armature is also retarded and regulated by means of a coil-spring 63, one end of which is attached tosaid armature and the other adjustably mounted by means of a set-screw (54.

Secured to the armature 62 and extending outwardly therefrom is an arm 05, havinga contact-point 66 at its outer end. which is insulated at 67 from the main portion of said arm. The contact point 66 is connected through the wire (38 with the binding-pole 51,

' to which'the service neutral 29 is attached.

Located on opposite sides of the contact-point 66 are contacts 69" 70, the contacttil) being connected through the wire 71 to the contact 45 and the contact being connected through the wire 72 to the contact 44. The wire 73 leads from the positive service-wire 52 to the coils of the magnet 46, and from the latter leads the wire 74 to the contact -13 on the switch-lever 15. The wire 75 leads from the positive service-wire 52 to the coils of the magnet 47, and from the latter leads the wire 76 to the contact 42- onthe switch-lever 15.

If the small meter A is'intended to meas-. ure, say, ten per cent. of the load capacity of the large meter B, the spring 63 will be so adjusted by means of the set-screw 64: that on all leads of ten per cent. of the large meters capacity or less the armature 62 will be held in such position that the c'ontactpoint 66 is out of engagement with the contact 69. If,

however, the load increases beyond that.

which it is intended that the small meter shall measure, contact will be made between the point 66 and the contact 69. Conversely-during the action. of the large meter B the current flowing through the coils of the magnets 54 55. will energize the same sufliciently to.

hold contacts'p'oint 66 away from the contact 70. Then the load decreases, however, to the point at which it is intended that the small meter shall be thrown into operation,

the strength of the magnets 5155 likewise decreases andthrough the spring 63 the contactpoint 66 will be drawn down into engagement withthe contact 70. I

hen the small meter is in operation, the circuit will be as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the positive flow being over the fol lowing path: positive service-wire 52, coil 56, wire 57, switch-contact 3, blade 14! on switch-lever 15, switch-contact 4, wire 16,

positive field 17 of meter A, and wire 18 to translating devices, returning over neutral wire 28 to service neutral 29-; and the negative flow over the following path: negative service-wire 53, coil 58,wir.e 59, switch-contact 5,blade 13 on switch-lever 1 5,switch-cont-act 6, wire 19, negative field 20 of meter A, and wire 21 to translating devices, returning over neutral wire 28 to service neutral 29. \Vhen the load increases beyond that which the small meter is intended to measure, the armature 62 will be turnedagainst the action of the spring 63, and contact will be made between the point 66 and the contact 69. The shuntcircuit through the magnet 46 will now be closed, the flow of current being as follows: positive service-wire 52, wire 73, coils of magnet 46, wire 7i, contacts 43 45, wire 71, contact 69, contact-point 66, and wire 68 to service neutral 20. As the magnet 46 is now energized it will attract the armature 39,

carried by the switch-lever 15, and shift the blades 13 ll so as to close the circuit between the contacts 10 and 9 and 8 and 7, respecgagement with thecontact 45, and the shuntcircuitrefei-red to is broken at thispoint. It will therefore be seen that said shunt-circuit is closed for but an instant of timeonly long enough for the magnet 46 to act to shift thev switch-lever. It will also be observed that the shunt-circuitis broken at a different point from that at which it is closed. With the switch-lever in the position last described the meter B will be in circuit andthe meter A out of circuit, and the flow of current will be as follows: from positive service-wire 52 through coil 56, wire 57, switch-contact 7, blade 14 on switch-lever l5, switch-contact 8, wire 22, positive field 23 of meter B, and wire 24 to translating devices, returning over neutral wire 28 to service neutral 29, and from negative service-wire 53 through coil 58, wire 59, switch-contact 9, blade 13 on switch-lever l5, switch-contact 10, wire 25, negative fieldcoil 26 of meter B, and wire-27 to translating devices, returningover neutral wire 28 to service neutral 29. It will be observed that after the shunt-circuit through the magnet 46 has been broken between the'contacts 43 and 45 during the movement of the lever 15 to switch in large meter B engagement is had tact 70.- The shunt-circuitthrough the, magnet 47 is therebyclosed over the following path: positive service-wire 52, wire 75, coils of magnet47, wire 76, contacts 42 and 44, wire 72, contact 70, contact-point 66, and wire 68 to service neutral 29. Magnet 47 being new energized will attract the armature 39 and shift the lever 15 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The large meterB will therebybe cutout of circuit and the small meter A cut into circuit over the paths heretofore traced. In the movement of the armature 39 toward magnet 47, however, contact will be broken between the contacts 42 and 44, and the shunt-circuit through the magnet 47 will be closed but for an instant of time and will be broken at a different point from that at which it is made.

As was stated in the former application referred to, only a fixed quantity of current is ever switched over, as the circuit is always broken at a definite point, whether the load be on the increase ordecrease, so that all loads above a certain percentage of the total capacity of the installation will be measured by the large meter B alone, and all loads below the same point will be measured by the small meter A alone.

The invention has been shown and described in connection with a three-wire system of,distribution. It is obvious, however, that it is equally well adapted to a two-wire system and may be used on either direct or alternating current.

Having now described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a system of electric metering, thecombination of a plurality of meters, a serviceshunt-circuits.

3.,In a system of electrical metering, the

combination of a plurality of meters, a service-circuit through said meters, a switch for separately cutting said meters into said circuit,electromagnets for actuating said switch, shunt-circuits through said magnets, and an automatic, electromagnetic 'circuits-controller for said shunt-circuits actuated by the quantity of current flowing.

4. In asystem of electric metering, the combination of a plurality of meters, a servicecircuit through said meters, a switch for separately cutting said meters into said circuit, actuating means for said switch, and an elec tromagnetic circuit-controller for said actuating means.

5. In a system of electric metering, the combination of aplurality of meters, aservice-circuit through said meters, a switch for cutting said meters into said circuit, electromagnets for actuating said switch, shunt circuits through said magnets, and anelectromagnetic circuit-controller in said service-circui for closing said shunt-circuits. i 6. In a system of electric metering, the combination of a plurality of meters, and anelectromagneticcircuit-controller in series with said meters for separately cutting said meters into the circuit.

- 7. In asystem of electric metering, the comfor said shunt-circuits, comprising an'electromagnetin the service-circuit, a contactpoint operated thereby, and contacts in said shunt-circuits, through which and said contact-point, said shunt-circuits are adapted to be separately closed.

9. In a system of electric metering, the combination of a plurality of meters, a service'circuit through said meters, a sw'itch for cutting said meters into said circuit, electromagnets for actuating said switch, shunt circuits through said magnets, and a circuit-controller for said shun t-circuits, comprising an electro for said shunt-circuits, comprising an-elec tromagnet in the service-circuit, a rotary armature therefor, an arm connected with and operated by said armature, a contact-point carried by but insulated from said arm, and contacts in said shunt-circuits, through which and said contact-point said shunt-circuits are adapted to be separately closed.

11. In asystem of electric metering,the combination of a plurality of meters, a service-circuit through said meters, a switch for cutting said meters into said circuit, electromagnets for actuating said switch, shuntcircuits through said magnets, and a circuit-controller for said shunt-circuits, comprising an electromagnet in the service-circuit, a rotary ar-.

mature therefor, an adjustable spring for controlling the movements of said armature a contact-point operated by said armature, and

contacts in said shunt-circuits, through which and said contact-point said shunt-circuits are adapted to be separately closed.

12. In a system of, electric metering, the combination ofa plurality of meters,a servicecircuit through said meters, a switch for cutting said meters into said circuit, electromagnets for actuating said switch, shunt-circuits through said magnets, and a circuit-controller for said shunt-circuits, comprising a doublepole electromagnet, the cores of which are surrounded by helices connected,- respectively, with the, positive and negative service-wires, an armature tor said magnet, a contact-point operated by said armature and connected with the service neutral, and contacts in said shuntcircuits through which and said contact-point said shunt-circuits are adapted to be separately closed.

13. In a system of electric metering, the

combination of a plurality of 1neters,a servicecircuit through said meters, a switchfor cut ting said meters into said circuit, electroma nets for actuatingsaid'switch, shunt-circuits through said magnets, anda circuit-controller for said shunt-circuits, comprising a doublepole electromagnet, the cores of which are sur rounded by helices connected, respectively, with the positive-and negatiye service-Wires,

a rotary armature movablebetween the poles of said magnet, a spring for controlling the movements of said armature, an arm carried by said armature, a contact-point secured to but insulated from said arm and connected totheserviceneiitral, and contacts in said shunt-circuits through which and said contact-point said shun t-circuits are adapted to be separately closed.

14. In a system of electric metering, the combination of a plurality of meters,aservicecircuit through said meters, a switch for cutting said meters into said circuit, including a switch-lever, an armature carried by said lever, contacts 42, 4-3, also carried by said lever, electromagnets on opposite sides of said armature for actuating said lever, contacts 44,

45, which the contacts '42, 43, are adapted to respectively. engage, contacts 69, 70, connected with the contacts 45 and 44:, respectively,

'a shunt-circuit through one of said magnets including the contacts 43, 45, and 69, a shuntcircuit through the other of said magnets including the contacts 42, 44, and 70, and a circuit-controller for said shunt-circuits, comprising au electromagnet in said service-circuit, and a contact-point operated thereby adapted to engage the contacts 69'and 7 O for separately closing said shunt-circuits, the

almost immediately broken between the con tacts 42 and 44 or 43 and i5.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in prese'nce of two subscribing wit- DGSSQS.

LYMAN O. REED;

Witnesses:

HARRY H. WATERS, JOHN D. MASENT,J r.

shunt-circuit which is closed thereby being 

